After a refreshing three weeks of winter break, I am back at LMU for the second half of my sophomore year. After a busy, but exciting first semester, it was great to unwind, spend time with family and friends, and travel up the East Coast. Even though I enjoy college and love the vibrancy and rich culture that swirls about Los Angeles, I love visiting home. I am grateful to be able to spend ample time on both coasts every year.
Over break, I ventured from Washington, D.C. to Wildwood, New Jersey to New York City. My brother had a basketball tournament in Wildwood, and my family and I got the chance to travel to Cape May between games. We visited the Cape May Lighthouse, walked along the beach, and sampled tasty food at the few restaurants and shops that had stayed open over the winter on the boardwalk. We tried various pizzas, panini sandwiches, flavors of ice cream, types of fudge, and assorted salt-water taffies. The food was only a bonus to the picturesque ocean scenery that we were lucky enough to wake up to each morning.
After two fantastic days in New Jersey, we journeyed to New York City and spent the day traversing around Manhattan. We had the pleasure of witnessing the great beauty of Central Park, eating at a classic New York diner, and visiting Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon Memorial. Even though we entered the city on a gloomy day, the weather did not detract from the city’s fast-paced, lively, and exhilarating atmosphere.
Even though my relaxing and fun winter break has officially wrapped, I feel good about my fourth semester at LMU. As I enter the New Year, I am excited about taking new classes and departing on more weekend adventures throughout L.A.
In terms of my major, I am eager to take new Communication Studies courses and grow academically within this phenomenal program. I am also looking forward to taking another Public Relations IDAP course and refining my skillset within this field. Furthermore, I feel confident that I will enjoy my history and health/nutrition classes within LMU’s core curriculum this semester. I am passionate about these subjects and welcome the opportunity to learn more about these interesting and important topics.
In remaining consistent with my passion for health and fitness, I plan to go on more hikes in L.A. this spring. I have already conquered the Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon hikes, and I cannot wait to hike Temescal Canyon and other scenic trails up in the Malibu area. I aim to use my time on the weekends to improve my overall health and conditioning while also exploring the scenic landscapes of Southern California.
I wish good luck to all LMU students as we return back to campus for the spring! Let’s make 2016 the best one yet.